Our Vegan Travel Guide to Rome

Rome. There’s really nowhere else like it.

Where else can you walk down alleyways lined with cobbled streets with a gelato in hand as mopeds flash by you? Which other cities have 2000 years within (almost) touching distance to you at all times?

Countries today model themselves on this same city from which the Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean for over 500 years. They build government monuments that echo the iconic style of buildings within Rome that even her residents – at time – can take for granted.

The sounds, the smells, and the dazzling light that shines off the faded marble scattered through the city enraptures you and draws from within you a hypnotised state that screams, "Oh! Never let me leave!".

For the tens of thousands of tourists and travellers that visit Rome every year one of the central highlights of their trip is the food – Gelato, fresh pasta, Mortadella, the pastries and the bitter-sweet espresso that MUST accompany them every morning; all of them taste quite unlike the ice cream or other Italian foods you ever try at home.

Below this introduction you will find a collection of suggestions from the both of us based from our own trips to Italy’s capital, but also from a number of our vegan friends who’s opinions we trust.

We’ve brought together all the Italian words and phrases we think you’ll need. There are meal suggestions too, should you need them. We’ve collected a list of vegan-friendly hotels in Rome, plus a number of vegan restaurants that come highly recommended by our own taste buds.

To make this your go-to replacement for your favourite travel guide company we’ve also listed a number of things to do in Rome, plus a little information on the best way to get around during your stay.

We both hope you enjoy what we’ve collected for you here and we ask only that you read our thanks at the end.

Useful Words & Phrases

You don’t have to have an Italian with you at all times to survive as a vegan in Rome, but there’s no doubt that it helps. With that in mind we’ve both pooled together to collect as many useful Italian words and phrases that we think you’ll need to navigate the culinary sector of the city.

Italy in general is actually a lot more clued in to what veganism is and in Rome vegan culture is becoming relatively well known and quite trendy. For example, during our most recent trip in 2015 there were vegan events and new vegan restaurants opening every few weeks or so.

Also, most – if not all – of the restaurants will have at least one person on staff that speaks English so should your Italian pronunciation still need a little practice and you’ve tried all of the below suggestions, don’t be afraid to speak in English.

– Essential Italian Words

The words below will either be on the menu next in the description of the dish, or in the ingredients list on the back (allergens are easy to find, they’re all in BOLD type).

Vegetables – "Verdura"

Fruit – "Frutta"

Mushrooms – "Funghi"

Pulses – "Legumi"

Soy – "Soia"

Soy Milk – "Latte di Soia"

Rice Milk – "Latte di Riso"

Almond Milk – "Latte di Mandorla"

Coconut Milk – "Latte di Cocco"

Oat Milk – "Latte di Avena"

Eggless Pasta – "Pasta senza Uova"

Dry Fruit – "Frutta Secca"

Palm Oil – "Olio di Palma"

Meat – "Carne"

Beef – "Manzo"

Veal – "Vitello"

Rabbit – "Coniglio"

Horse – "Cavallo"

Lamb – "Agnello"

Sheep – "Pecora"

Pork – "Maiale"

Tripe – "Trippa”

Chicken – "Pollo"

Fish – "Pesce"

Seafood – "Frutti di Mare”"

Ham – "Prosciutto"

Egg – "Uova"

Butter – "Burro"

Milk – "Latte"

Powdered Milk – "Latte in polvere"

Without Lactose – "Senza lattosio"

Cheese – "Formaggio"

Lard – "Strutto"o”Lardo”

Acciughe – "Anchovies"

Gelatine – "Gelatina"

Isinglass – "Colla di Pesce"

Honey – "Miele"

Meat Stock – "Brodo di Carne"

Fish Stock – "Brodo di Pesce"

Essential Italian Phrases

Navigating any country is always easier when you learn a little of the language before you visit. You don’t have to reach the level of "Mother Tongue", but a little understanding of the basics can really help you – especially when you’re vegan.

Safe Vegan Dishes

Many people believe that Italian dishes are full of everything a vegan aims to avoid and that being vegan in Rome is near impossible.

In reality being vegan in Rome is easy.

Unlike the Italian food you might have tried outside of the country, most chefs use cream just in specific dishes so you need not fear finding it in any sauces, especially a basic tomato sauce. Butter and cream though are sometimes used in risotto, so be sure to talk with the chef before ordering a plate of it.

There’s an abundance of vegan-friendly food in the Italian cookbook that’s already vegan without having to adjust the recipe at all, and for everything else that you might want to try there’s almost always the choice to have it served without an item, such as cheese.

Below you’ll find a list of vegan-friendly meals that you can keep your eye out for when you’re browsing over menus, although most restaurants will severe many of these by default.

Antipasti / Contorni

First of all it’s a good idea to check the menu for Antipasti and Contorni (Starters and Side Dishes) as these sections tend to have plenty of vegan-friendly options. For example you may find:

Primi Piatti

Within the Primi Piatti – or First Course plates – part of the menu you’ll also find another group of vegan dishes that you can order that come with no complication beyond asking for no cheese (Senza formaggio).

Before You Order Anything

Before you start ordering any food anywhere it’s essential to know just a few things before you do about some of the most important and requested foods, namely pasta, pizza, piadina, and gelato!

Fresh Pasta – Fresh pasta is almost always made with eggs. Any exception would be if you informed the chef during the morning that you’d like fresh egg-less pasta in the evening. In the event that you’re unable to notify them ahead of time, stay safe and order dried pasta without eggs – "Pasta secca senza uova".

Pizza – Sometimes pizza dough is made with lard to add richness to the dough. To avoid this be sure to ask for "Pizza senza strutto".

Piadina – This classic snack/meal originally from Emilia Romagnais almost always made with lard, but you’ll find some that substitute it for olive oil. Be sure to ask for, "Piadina senza strutto".

Risotto – Many risotto recipes contain butter, and others add milk, cream, and sometimes parmesan. Ask your chef if they can make yours without all of them and with vegetable stock – "Senza burro, latte, e parmigiano; e anche con brodo vegetale".

Gnocchi – As with fresh pasta, sometimes egg is used to make them. Please be sure to specify, "Gnocchi senza uova".

Pulses – Sometimes even bean-based dishes may not be automatically vegan-friendly. For example in Rome, some pasta dishes with chickpeas or beans – Pasta e ceci / Pasta e fagioli – might have meat inside of the sauce for flavour. Always ask if the sauce is "Senza guanciale e pancetta".

Gelato – If you’re eager for Italy’s favourite sweet and the gelateria doesn’t have "Gelato con latte di riso/soia" you can always try another flavour such as Fondente (dark chocolate). Before ordering be sure to ask if they’ve used egg or dairy products to enhance the flavour – "Senza latte e uova".

Where To Eat

With this Vegan Travel Guide to Rome we hope that you’ll feel encouraged enough to order vegan food at any restaurant that takes your fancy, so you’re not just eating in (the great) vegan restaurants in Rome – that being said, there are a number of great vegan-friendly cafes, bars, and restaurants that you really should visit.

Vegan Restaurants in Rome

So What?!?

Ever since our visit to So What?!? in 2014 we’ve been huge fans of the owners and restaurant they’ve created. We loved how they take classic Italian recipes and mix a little international inspiration to create something really special.

The theme is B-movie and there’s a little punk thrown in for good measure, but this isn’t the usual vegan junk food you might expect to see.

Address – Via Ettore Giovenale, 56, 00176 Rome, Italy

Confraternita dell’Uva

This fantastic Sicilian restaurant is a little out of the centre but it’s easily reached by public transport in about twenty minutes from Termini – and it’s worth the short trip.

What started off as monthly vegan event has become so popular that it’s now running every week on Monday, and when you try the food you’ll understand why.

It’s classic Sicilian cuisine crossed with a little Lazio influence and a lot of inspiration. It’s one meal you’ll struggle to forget.

Address – Via Augusto Dulceri, 56, 00176 Rome

Alvarado Street

Within the chaining multi-cultural Pigneto neighbourhood near to So What?!? is another great vegan place to stop where you can get something really Italian – cold cuts!

It’s more of a classic punk bar in which alternative music is playing throughout the day, and played late in the basement at night. They have pizza and a number of vegan beers, plus the plate of vegan cold cuts of meat and cheese that we think you’ll love to try out.

Address – Via Attilo Mori 27, 00176 Rome

Zazie

Zazie is a small health food chain that you’ll find within Bologna, Ferrara, and Rome as well.

They create a number of dishes that changes with the days in the week and you’re bound to never see the same meal twice during your stay. They offer salads, soups, and a number of delicious vegan sweets.

Address – Via Quintino Sella, 29, 00187 Rome

REWILD Cruelty-Free Club

The members-only REWILD Cruelty-Free Club was the first vegan eatery we ate at in Rome back in 2013 and it’s somewhere we’ve always encouraged to visit.

It’s by far the most basic vegan food you’ll find in Rome, and it’s the usual fare of tofu burgers and vegan beer – but it’s what we love about it. Sometimes you just want to sit in the company of other vegans and animal rights supporters and enjoy a burger. REWILD is the best place to do it.

Coperto

It’s worth noting that in some restaurants, cafes, and bars you’ll be given a table charge – or coperto – should you choose to sit down. This is typically paid per person. However, this is a long tradition that is (apparently) disappearing in some parts of the city, but worth watching out for just in case.

Vegan-Friendly Shopping

Unfortunately at this time there aren’t nearly as many vegan shops as we’d have hoped to share with you, but with the lifestyle growing in popularity we imagine it won’t be too long before more vegan clothing shops and eco-friendly stores are open.

In the mean time there are a number of stores and supermarkets you can shop at for all of your vegan dietary needs.

Supermarkets

Most of the supermarkets in Italy are now supplying a number of the basic vegan products that you’ll need, with milk alternatives being the most commonly found. During the last year alone we’ve both found a surprising number of vegetarian and vegan approved products in branches of the Conad, Coop, Pam, andCarrefour.

Away from these main supermarkets you’ll also find a couple of independent health shops in which you can buy all manner of foods and ingredients including kamut, spelt, buckwheat, and quinoa products which are in high demand. The largest health store chain, NaturaSi, can also be found in Rome and with more than ten locations within the center it’s highly likely there’s one close by your chosen accommodation choice.

Currently there’s only one purely vegan supermarket in Rome, though we both expext that to change over the next year or too. iVegan stocks a good range of imported and locally-sourced vegan food goods as well a number of other products, from wines and beers, to cosmetics and some clothes.

Vegan-Friendly Food Brands

Thanks to the popularity of vegetarianism in Italy and the greater awareness of both lactose-intolerance and celiac disease, many supermarkets are stocking brands that qualify as vegan too.

*You should be able to find the following brands in most supermarkets:

Sojasun make a few faux meat products such as burgers and breaded "meat".

Conad and Coop also stocks a small range of their own brand products that are vegan such as dairy milk alternatives, biscuits and snacks of which many are palm oil free (especially for the Coop brand ones).

Almaverde faux meat products.

Alpro is a popular brand throughout Europe which creates dairy alternatives such as yoghurt and milks.

Misura have a number of biscuits, croissants and salty snacks that are vegan, but not all qualify.

Accommodation

The hospitality sector is still going through a period of change and many hotel chains are already becoming more vegan-friendly as they adjust to being more eco-efficient and carbon neutral.

Whilst the hotels in Rome continue to change there are several smaller hotels, hostels, and bed & breakfasts that are already leading the way by offering vegan-options during the course of your stay.

This vegan-friendly hotel and hostel with in-house vegetarian cafe had everything we needed to feel comfortable during our time in Rome. They have a vegan breakfast available on request.

Most useful of all – apart from the perfect central location – was the list of personal recommendations from the owners who left the deepest impression with their smiles and ever-helpful advice based upon their 16 years of living in Rome.

Holiday Apartments

As regular slow travellers we’re always looking to find apartments that we can rent so that we’re more independent, and it’s something we’d highly recommend to you.

For vegans in particular having your own kitchen can be a great backup plan should you feel like you need to supplement your eating with some self-prepared meals.

Rome is full of holiday apartments that are owned by both businesses and sole proprietors, and if it’s the latter you’d prefer to support with your holiday Euros then we suggest booking via Cross Pollinate, a booking engine that helps to support smaller local apartment owners to compete in the highly competitive space.

Airbnb

Another service we’re using more-and-more often is airbnb, another great website that allows local apartment owners to lease out their spare rooms or entire apartments to visitors to Rome.

Couchsurfing

If meeting with local Romans and vegans is as important to your learning about a destination as it is to us, then be sure to send a request to one of the many hosts on the Couchsurfing.com, the website that allows you to stay on someone’s couch or in their spare bedroom for free.

One great aspect of Couchsurfing is the ability to stay with fellow vegans who’ll know the best places to eat at in Rome, and the chance they might offer you to share a home-made Italian meal with you.

Note – Couchsurfing isn’t entire for free. It’s a fair exchange between people who love travel. Be sure to be a responsible guest if using the service.

Accommodation Tax

Started in 2011, the Accommodation Tax costs around €4 a night per person (depending on the type of accommodation used). Be forewarned that this tax is usually not included in the price of your hotel or hostel booking and must be paid in cash upon departure.

Get Around

Much like commuters in London, Romans love to complain about how bad the public transport is within the city, but in reality it’s actually incredibly easy to use and quite reliable. The only real exception to this is the Metro system which – with only two lines – can be incredibly busy during peak times and around popular stations such as Colosseo.

Taxis are all available throughout the city, although they are by far the most expensive to use given how busy traffic can be and how long it can take to drive even the shortest distance.

Using a combination of the Metro, trams, and buses is the easiest route to take for most trips and are incredibly simple to use.

Understanding The Tickets

With one ticket you can travel across all the public transport in Rome. With a Single Journey Ticket that lasts 100 minutes you can start your trip on the Metro, take the next part on the tram, and then finish the last leg of the journey on the bus.

You can purchase Single Journey tickets, Day Tickets, Two Day Tickets, Three Day Tourist Tickets, and Weekly tickets which – as of Sept. 2015 – are priced accordingly:

Single Journey (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) – €1.50

Day Ticket (Biglietto Giornaliero) – €6

Two Day Ticket (Biglietto per Due Giorni) – €12.50

Three Day Tourist Ticket (Biglietto Turistico) – €16.50

Weekly Ticket (Carta Settimanale) – €24

Tickets can be purchased at most Metro stations, bus stops, and some tram stops; but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll find a ticket machine or kiosk at all of them.

Another place you can purchase tickets from are the newsagents (tabacchi) that surround most stations and stops. All you need to ask for un biglietto, per favore for one Single Journey ticket. For longer ticket durations it’s best to purchase these from the ticket machines and kiosks inside of larger stations.

Important – Transport tickets must be validated at the beginning of your journey in order to avoid paying a fine to ticket inspectors. On the Metro this is done via a machine on the platform. For the tram or bus this is done via a small machine on the tram/bus itself once you board. They’re generally white/green/red or completely yellow. Do note discard your ticket until your journey is completed.

The Metro

Beneath Rome there are two main underground rail lines called Line A (The red line) and Line B (The blue line), plus a third line that leads out of the city called Line C (The green line).

The two main lines cross diagonally across the city and take you past many of the most popular attractions in the city, with some stations named after the attraction it serves; for example, Colosseo is situated outside and beneath the Colosseum.

Line A and Line B cross only at one station, Roma Termini and all changes between the two networks must happen here. Unfortunately, this does create a traffic problem as hundreds of people change routes there throughout the day, but for the convenience of rapidly crossing the city, it’s worth navigating through.

Trains are very regular and the service runs between 05:30 to 23:30 between Sunday and Thursday, and between 05:30 to 01:30 between over Friday and Saturday.

Buses

Buses are always a great public transport option as they allow you to sightsee through the window as you make your journey, however, although the buses are regular there can be periods of waiting during dense traffic periods and can – at times – be crowded.

Navigating the many routes of the city isn’t particularly difficult, although it’s always worth picking up a map of the bus routes from tourist information points throughout the city. Whilst there it’s also worth asking for a brief summary of which lines to take for your journey

One of the most popular routes is that of the 64 which will take you directly from Termini Station all the way to St. Peters.

Each stop will detail all the routes available and the stops each bus will pass by, and they should have a route map of the city also. If in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask a local for some help with a polite, "Scusa, puoi aiutarmi per favore?" (Excuse me, can you help me please?).

Trams

The tram network in Rome has been going through a facelift over the past ten years and because of that the routes are becoming more viable as an option to tourists. The new trams are more spacious than their older counterparts (which are still used on some routes), and reach many parts of the city a lot quicker than most buses do.

You can use the same tickets for the tram as the rest of the transport network, but be aware that you can’t purchase them on the tram itself (unless there is a vending machine on the tram).

As with the metro, the network doesn’t cross in many places so you’ll have to change at Termini Station if you wish to use just the trams to cross the city.

There are six lines within the centre of the city numbered 2, 3, 5, 8, 14 and 19. As with the buses it’s best to not be shy and to ask people around you if you’re not sure if you’re heading in the direction, but most tram stops have electronic boards that make choosing the right tram quite simple. Also, for popular routes the tram will have both an electronic sign telling you the next stop, plus an announcement.

Taxis

Throughout Rome there is a well-established registered network of taxis which are uniformly white cars with both a Taxi light on-top and cost-meter inside; however due to the unpredictability of the traffic in the city even the shortest journeys can take twice as long or cost three times as much as you may predict.

It’s always best to take taxis from designated taxi stands or alternatively a taxi called via your hotel or hostel, and before using any taxi you should always make sure your driver agrees to using the meter before hand, lease note that your first piece of luggage is free, but any others may cost an extra €1 surcharge.

Get Unlimited Public Transport

Together with the Rome transportation network, Rome Turismo has created an all-in-one pass that enables you to travel freely across the city using all of the above options for a period of 24 or 36 hours.

Alongside the unlimited transport the Roma Pass also entitles pass-holders to either 1 or 2 free visits to one of the many archaeological sites and museums, including the Colosseum and Museo Capitolini.

Once the free entrances have been used then the card can be used for discounted tickets at all of the other museums covered by the card.

The 48 Hour Roma Pass costs €28 and the 72 Hour Roma Pass costs €36.

Each pass can be purchased online before you arrive or can be bought directly at the Tourist Information centres throughout the city. They’re supplied in a small case that includes all of the information you’ll require to use them, a map of Rome, plus a number of discounts for events, tours, and other businesses in the city.

Travel Safely

As with any travel situation anywhere around the world, use common sense on public transport.

You’re as likely to be robbed on public transport at home as you are in Rome, but there are some situations during your stay that you should be more mindful of pickpockets. These are normally trips on the Metro and buses during busy periods when you’re left with very little personal space.

Be sure to keep all of your personal belongings out of easy reach from potential thieves by keeping them stored deep within your day bag, preferably something that’s difficult to open easily, and out of your trouser or jacket pockets. Also, be sure to keep your bag across your chest when in busy areas so that you can see it at all times.

Get Out

Rome is a fantastic place to start an adventure around Italy because it’s so centrally placed that you can venture north or south quite easily thanks to the myriad of transport routes that flow through or by it.

You could head north to spend some time in Tuscany or travel south and spend some time along the Amafi Coast and the region of Puglia all the way in the "Heel of the boot".

There are a number of cities and towns you can visit, especially if you’re renting a car.

Here are a couple of day trips that we’d recommend:

Tivoli

Regarded as home to one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, Tivoli is reachable within 45 minutes by train and is worth taking a half-day or full day to visit so that you can also see Hadrian’s Villa.

Assisi

This beautiful hill-top village may be known most of all for Saint Francis and the extraordinary church that remains from his monastic order, but the town itself is a beautiful Medieval setting to spend a day wandering round.

Napoli

By far one of our favourite cities in central Italy, Napoli is a city of the people, although the city is certainly split between the haves and have nots.

It’s a down-to-earth people-driven city with a sea-front covered edge that works perfectly as a showcase of what Italian life is like. You’ll find great food, friendly people, and interesting historical monuments wherever you go.

And the pizza is as amazing as they say.

Pompeii

If you don’t have time enough to stay in Naples to visit the open archaeological park of Pompeii, then taking a day trip to visit the incredible ruins of the almost forgotten town is easily done.

For those of you with little time but a big desire to see both Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, then be sure to review the day trip package Walks of Italy offer that includes a visit to the unburied town and the iconic picture postcard coastline:

Things To Do

With over three thousand years of history to choose from, you’d need years to see everything there is to do in Rome, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see plenty of the best attractions and off-the-path experiences whilst you’re there.

We’ve had the luxury of visiting several times together and happily recommend the following things to do:

Visit the Colosseum

No trip to Rome would be complete without a trip to see the fantastic ancient arena known throughout the world as the Colosseum.

Thousands of people poor into this stone stadium every day for a chance to glimpse the magnitude and size of the arena, whilst picturing themselves up on the seats watching as the gladiators fought on the arena floor below.

Due to the quantity of people visiting the Colosseum every day it can take a few hours to queue to purchase tickets before entering the landmark. It’s best to purchase tickets online before you arrive so that you can collect them and enter a little quicker, although a wait is still likely.

The quickest way to enter is to either join the queue specifically for the Roma Pass or to join a guided tour run by an outside company like Walks of Italy.

Walk through the Roman Forum

This old central economic and political hub of Ancient Rome is one of the best archaeological parks in the world and parts of it are still being uncovered and restored even today.

The Forum was once free to enter but in recent years has becoming paid entry only. Fortunately, with a combined ticket that includes the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Forum itself, you can see them all easily with just one pass.

Walking Tour of Rome (plus free gelato!)

Our friends Walks of Italy are once again our firm favourites to recommend thanks to great service we’ve had with them previously; and if you’re hoping to see many of the best sights at during the twilight hour – arguably the best light to see Rome in – then be sure to sign up for their cheap five-star ‘Welcome to Rome‘ walking tour that includes a walk past the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and a scoop of fresh gelato (be sure to ask for fondente!).

See the Trevi Fountain

Restored over the course of 2014 and 2015, the Trevi Fountain is as beautiful as it has ever been and is as remarkable now as it was when it was completed during the Baroque period of the 1760’s.

Even after fifty years there are still thousands of people visiting to see the real-life stage from that famous scene in La Dolce Vita, so don’t be surprised to have to wait your turn to see the fountain from down by the water.

For a quieter viewing of the Trevi we highly recommend that you visit later into the evening when most tourist groups have either returned to their hotels or are on board their bus back to their cruise ship.

Stare through the hole of the Pantheon

Though the Pantheon you see today is actually a replica built in 2nd Century, it’s still unbelievable to think that this 1800 year old dome and building that supports it still stands.

The architecture of this building and the manner in which the dome was built has fascinated architects for over a millennia and even to the untrained eye it’s a fascinating place to observe.

It’s free to enter and a real must-see attraction in Rome, just be sure to bare in mind that it’s still a religious building and should be respected as such.

See contemporary art at the MAXXI Art Museum

We first visited the MAXXI Contemporary Art Museum in 2012 and it left a last impression on us both.

Thanks For Reading!

First of all, thanks to you for reading our Vegan Travel Guide to Rome!

We both hope that it comes in useful to you during your next trip to Rome and should you find anything vegan-friendly during your stay that you think would be great for this guide, then we’d love to hear from you via our contact page.

Lastly, if you have found this guide useful and feel move to thank us in some way, then we’d love for you to share this article with you friends one of the links below.

Alternatively, if you’d like to reward us with a small donation for the time we’ve taken to create this guide, then feel free to buy us each a gelato via this PayPal donation page.